Apparatus for making records



Nov. 7, i950 L. M. KEEFE APPARATUS RoR MAKING RECORDS 2 Sheets-Sheet lFiled July 9, 1946 w3 SS@ IN V EN TOR F. W. K. M W, .0 f, W

Nov. 7, 1950 M, KEEFE 2,529,083

APPARATUS FOR MAKING RECORDS v2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1946 FIGZ.

FIG. 5. 4

242 2f Je 233 Wg I N VEN TOR Patented NOV. 7, 1.950

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,529,083 APPARATUS FR MAKING RECORDSLincoln M. Keefe, Brooklyn, N. Y;

Application July 9, 1946, Serial No. 682,260

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for making recordsand has for an bject the provision of a web carrying formable surfaceswhich is continuously passed between cooperating rollers carryingmatrixes of sound recordings and annular cutting means, associated witheach pair of matrixes, cuts the records in vision in apparatus forformingy or molding records of, a pair of cooperative wheels gearedtogether without backlash, and carrying, inthe peripheries of theirouter surfaces, record dies or stampers having spiral sound track form.-ing portions thereon, there being .an equal number of dies on each ofsaid surfaces, and'so related that each record formed has a soundtrackon one side formed from a die on one of said wheels, and asoundtrack on the other side made from a die on the other of the wheels,said sound tracks being substantially concentric.

Another object of `the invention is the provision of rotativeA apparatusfor forming records,

.and including cooperating rollers carrying means for molding discrecords from a web carrying formative material, and means partly on oneof said rollers and partly on the other of said roll- Kers for cuttingsaid discs out as the records are formed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the artrupon a study of the following specification andthe accompanying drawings.

y Heretofore the most widely used method of producing phonograph recordswas to produce matrixes or stampers of the subjects or material forimpressing sound tracks in the records in a record press. Two matrixeswere mounted in the press-one. facing upward to form or mold the lowersurface of the record, and the other facing downwardly to form or moldthe upper surface of the record. The press is openedv and a ball, orbiscuit, of plastic is placed in the press between the matrixes, heat isapplied to heat the matrixes and to soften the plastic so that whenpressure is applied to move the matrixes toward one another, the recordis formed. Then the matrixes and the record must be cooled so that thepress may be opened and the record removed.

Obviously' the handling of the records one by one, and the time elementfor the heating and the subsequent cooling steps, makes it necessarythat the records be sold at prices commensurate with the labor cost ofthis time, and with the time in which the expensive press is tied up inthe making of each single record.

Contrasted with this I propose to make records in pluralites andrapidly. A web is coated on both sides with a 4formative material, andas this web leaves the coating apparatus, it is delivered directly tothe record forming molding and cutting apparatus which includes a pairof cooperative rollers geared together without backlash. In theperipheral surfaces of vthese rollers are cooperative matrixes, orstampers which form the sound tracks in the records, the absence ofbacklash insuring the concentricity and the absence o wowwows.Cooperative cutting means carried partly on one of the rollers andpartly on the other of the rollers, cuts the discs out from the web, andthe remainder of the web is processed to recovervtherefrom the formativematerial thereon.v A

The cut out discs may pass into a packing room in a substantiallycontinuous ow and thereby recordsare produced at a small fraction of thecosts of records made by any other method.

Referringto the drawings which are merely given by way'of examplev toillustrate'the .invention:

Figure 1 isa diagrammatic representation of a portion of a system forforming recordsk from a'web;v

Figure 2 is an elevation, partlyl inY section,

.showing-two rollers geared together and carrying record forming means,and means for cutting discs from the web in accordance with theinvention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.;

Figure 4 is a View showing a form of coupling employed for coupling therollers in driven relation with their drive shafts;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation of portions of the rims ofthe two rollers carrying record forming means, means for cutting therecord discs from the web, and means for ejecting the discs from thecutting means; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional View showv ing the action of thelejecting means,

vit constitutes one'half of, a herringbonegear.

Ythe-splines |89 on the drum wheel |4|.

3 Referring to Figure 1, a web afterA it has had its upfper and lowersurfaces heated or slightly softened, passes between drum rollers |4|and |42 where the records are formed, cut out from the web and strippedfrom the cutting out means in a manner to be presently described inconnection with Figures 2 to 6 inclusive. As the web and the recordsleave the rollers |40 and I4 they are sprayed by jets |42 and |43 ofcold water or any other suitable coolant.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 6 inclusive, which show details of therecord forming apparatus, the drum wheel |48 includes a cylindricalportion |56 which has mounted on the outer surface thereof a pluralityof matrixes or stampers which will be presently described. Thiscylindrical portion is counterbored or stepped on each end toaccommodate wheel like members, one of `which is shown at |51 andincludes a rim |58V the diamveterof, and fitting into, the counterbo'reand semember (not shown) has a hub |1| formed therefon, and this hub ispreferably plain. Y

A shaft |13 forms a sliding nt with aligned holes in the hubs |1| and|10 and has' a portion |12 Y `formed therein. On the other end the wheellike |14 of larger diameter within the bore |16 of the hub |15.` Thishub hasspokes |11 formedintegral therewith. Preferably formedY integralwith the outer ends of thesespokes is a rim |18 having herringbone teeth|19 formed in the outer surface thereof, and constituting a herringbonegear hereinafter Vtermed the herringbone gear |19. The hub |15 of thisgear has anextended portion |15a whichv has splines |88 formed therein,and ,these splines cooperate with the splines |12.

The shaftportion |13a, beyond the'portion |14, may be of the samediameter as the main portionA of the shaft, and is journaled in abearing I8! mounted on a structural bridge member |82. `The member |82is secured to two upright spaced structural members |83 and |84. Theleftend of the shaft |13, as seen in lFigure 2, is 'likewise journaled in abearing like the bearing 18| supported on a bridge member like thebridge member |82 secured to uprights like the uprights |83 and |84. Thebearing and supports on the left end are removed when it isdesired toremove one drum wheel |40 and substitute another. V.The

splines serve to key the drum Wheel to the hub of the herringbone ,gearV|19, and said Wheel may be slid off tothe left or slid on to the right.

,are engaged by correspondingthreads formed date the rims of wheel-likemembers, one of Vbore in the left end of the cylindrical portion and hasa plain hub similar to the hub 1|.

A gear |9| has teeth whichare angular and It has a hub |93 with splinesY|94 which engage A gear wheel `|94, which constitutes the other half ofa herringbone gear, has a hubY |296 and spokes mizes backlash, thearrangement Vshown in Figure 3 is devised to eliminate backlash. Thegear |9| has secured-to its spoke web |9|a a stud 20| extending axiallythrough an arcuate slot 292 formed in the spoke web |95a.

The web |95a'also carries an axial stud 203, spaced apart from the stud20|. Acurved spring 204 having one end engaging the stud 20| and theother end engaging the stud 283, urges them oppositely, and in turn thegear wheels V|9| and |94 are urged oppositely, thereby eliminatingbacklash between the herringbone gear |19 and the composite or two partherringbone gear |9| |94.

The drum wheels may be driven (via said herringbone gears) by suitablereduction gearing (not shown) powered by an electric motor 205.

A shaft |91 has a portion |98 of increased diameter within the hubs |93and |95, and to the right of the portion |98, the shaft portion |91a ispreferably the same diameter as the main portion |91, and is journaledin'a bearing |99.f

mounted on a horizontal structural member 290 which is also secured tothe uprightsY |83 and |84.` On the left end, the shaft isjournaled in abearing similar-tothe bearing |99; mounted on a horizontal member like200 secured Vto uprights like |83and'V |84. YAll of the elementsdescribed on the Yleft en'd ofthe shaft are removable when it is desiredto remove one drum wheel and substitute another as was above describedin connection withlthe drum wheel |48. After the'substitution vthebearings may be replaced onA the left Yendsof the lshafts andthesupports'are secured' in vplace,'and the devicelis ready `to producerecords from the stamperson the substituted'd'rum wheels. Y

Now as to the details of the mountingof the stampers and allied deviceson the drum wheels, reference is made to vFigure 5 which is an enlargedcross-section.k

The annular drum |85 carries a plurality of stampers whichar'ejall-mounted in the same manner las the one shown in enlargeddetail.A circular depressionY 20S-is rformedrin `the peripheral surface ofthewall'ofthe drum |85, and the matrix or stamperV 281'is of such'sha-pethat it fits in and uses the depression-206 as a socket. Bolts 208 and209 extend through holes formed Yin the wall of the drum 185,-'r andYarerv engaged respectively by wing nuts2|0 and 2| "Centrally located inthe *depression* or socket 206, andextending throughthe stamper 201 is atubular knife 2| 2; VA hole 2|3 substantially the size of the interiorof fthe-tubular knife 2|2, has anenlarged portion 2 |4 containingthreads which 'on' a plug member 2|5 which serves to retain a softrubber, `or the like, rod 2|6, the 'purpose of which will be presentlydescribed.

The'sur'face of the stamperrbetween a point 2'|1 near the'outer'edge anda point 2|8 nearer tothe middle-thereof, may contain-the means forforming the reproducible portion of the record. The'surface 2| 9 betweenthe point 2| 8 and the tubularknife 2|2 maycarry the title and otherinformation in intagliol (for example) to be impressed in the records asthey are formed. Concentric-with the socket'or-depr'ession 206 is agroove 220 in which is mounted an annular knife 22|. Outsidethe circularknife 22|, the Wall |95 4has an annular depression 222 formed therein.`The crossfsecti'on of this depression l,may best be seen in Figure f6.Mounted in this "depression 'is a rubber 0r other deformable ring 223,the maximum deformation of beseen in Figure 5.

Disposed in the wall |95 within and adjacent to the inner walls of theknife 22| are a plurality of spaced holes 224 eachA of whichhas aportion 22406 of smaller diameter. -Between 'each hole and its portionof smaller diameter is formed a shoulder. The holes 224 are preferablyrectangular, and the portions 224gl are preferably round. The holes 224may be so close together that their adjacent sides coincide, in which.event they form a'continuous annular groove.

Positioned in each hole 224 is. a stripper 225, and in cases where acontinuous annular groove is substituted for the holes 224, thestrippers would contact one another and extend continu-A ously aroundthis groove, just inside the circular knife 22|, with xed studsinterspersed for anchoring the outer periphery of the Stamper to thewall at a plurality of points.

Eachk stripper 225 includes a rectangular body 226, an overhanginerbevel 221, a threaded shank 228 which extends through the hole 224e, anda nut or the like 229 which may be set to limit the movement of thestripper. A spring 230 embraces the shank 228 and, has one endcontacting the end of the rectangular body and the other end contactingthe Shoulder at the'bottom of the hole (or groove)` 224v for urging orstripping discs, cut bythe` knifej22l, outwardly. The several groups ofstrippers 225 might each be made in the form of arcuatesectors, but sofar as we know at this time, the plurality of individual strippers ispreferable., v

The cylindrical wall |66 of the drive wheel |46 has a depression 23|formed therein (like the depressionv 266 in the wall |95 previouslydescribed) and positioned in or located by the-depression is a stamper232, which has bolts v233 and' 234 extending through suitable holes inthe wall |66. Wing nuts 235 and 236 respectively engage these bolts andsecure the stamper there- From the center of the depression 23| into thewall |66 is formed a hole 231, the bottom 23B of which is undercut toaccommodate a retaining ring 239. Positioned in the hole 231 is a plugof lignum vitae or the like 240, which is adapted to cooperate with thetubular knife 2 l2.

An annular groove 24| is formed in the wall |66 and its inner diameterclears the outer edges of the stamper 232. Positioned in the groove 24|is an annular ring 242 of lignum vitae, or the like, which has a beveledoverhanging portion 243 and a cut bevel 244. The ring 242 is retainedtherein by means of a metallic ring 245 set into the surface of the wall|66 and overlapping the cut bevel 244. The ring 245 .is secured to thewall |66 by means of screws 246.

We show a plurality of stampers on the drum wheel |4| and a plurality ofmate stampers on the drum wheel |40, but since the other stampers 0n thedrum wheel |4| are identical (except for subject matter in someinstances) with the stamper 261 above described as mounted on the wall|95 of the drum wheel |4|, further descriptions of them would berepetitive. Likewise descriptions of the other mate stampers identicalwith the description of the stamper 232 carried on the wall |66 of thedrum wheel |49, are not believed necessary.

The web, as has hereinbefore been described. has its surfaces softenedas it passes through the conditioning oven 60. After the web leaves theoven 60 is passes between the drum wheels I4!) which may 6. and |4I,which are moving in unison, due to.y the fact that the herringbone gear|19 and the herringbone gear |9|, |94y are of the same pitch diameters.The web is engaged between the stampers 20.1 and 232 along a linecontact substantially parallel to the axes of the drum wheels |40 land4|, and this line contact is constantly advancing (to the left as seenin Figure 1)` until, as the opposite edges of the stampers engage theweb, the formation of the recordv is effected. At the same time theleading edge ofthe knife 22| has .pierced the. web (along anarcuateline) and has slightly entered the. surface of the lignum 242. Bythe time the formation o'f. the

- complete double face of the record vis effected, the

knife 22|. has entirely cut it out from the web of. vrecord material.Prior to Vthe completion. of the cutting by the knife 22|, the tubular.knife 2.12 pierces the web andY its circular edge enters the lignum.246, thereby forming the centerhole in the record. The little disc, or.washer,i241. which is removed by this operation. causes-the compressionof theY rubber plug. 2|6, so that a portion of the latter ows into `:thespace 2|4. and when the tubular knife 2|2 and thelignum 240 areseparated, `as the formation of therecord is approaching completion,the-urge .of .the ,rubber plug causes the disc.for.:washer ejected fromthe tubular knife 2|2.k

As. the record is being formed the. intaglio matter in the area betweenthe point (circle) 2|6, and the exterior ofv the tubularA knife 2|2".automatically impresses within a. corresponding area on the record, thetitle, number, andother identifications as may be necessary As the knife22| is cutting the web, it is held or bound by the progressivecompressiony of the rubber ring 223. A distortion 'bead 246 formed inthe web about the beveled surface of the knife 22| is within theconfines, of thek ring '223. Also as the knife 22| is progressively.cutting, each stripper 225 adjacent to the portion. of the knifeactually cutting is raised against the urge of its spring 236. It. willbe understood-that, as the newly formed record is cut out from-the web.it enters the interior of the ring knife 22|, and the function of thestrippers is, under the urge of the stripper springs 230, to eject therecord from the knife 22|.

I have found that by forming records as described above, the resultantrecords are of the highest quality, and it is believed that due to theenormous pressures exerted along the advancing line of contact the soundtracks produced therein are superior to those produced by devices of theprior art. Another great advantage in our new and improved apparatus isthat we can produce records many times more rapidly, therebysubstantially reducing the overall cost of the records.

Although the arrangements herein shown and described, were merely givenby way of example to illustrate methods of practicing the invention, itis obvious that many changes may be made in the said arrangementswithout departing from the spirit of the invention as` defined in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for producing records wherein two rotating drums drivenin definite timerelation to one another, carry matrixesv matching eachother in position relation, circular cutting means on one of said drumsparallel to the outer periphery of the matrix thereon, stripper meansset into the surface of said last-mentioned drum between and concentricVwith both the matrix thereon and said circular cutting means, and a ringof lignum vitae material set into the surface of the other of said drumsparallel to the periphery of the matrix thereon and adapted to beengaged by the cutting edges of said cutting means as said drums arerotated, whereby an impressionable web, passed between said drums,receives impressions on opposite faces thereof from said matrixes and atthe. same time the portion receiving said impressions is cut out fromthe web to form a disc, said stripper means being adapted to force saiddisc from the interior surface Vof said circular cutting means.

Y2. In a device for producing records wherein rotating drums driven indefinite time relation toone anotherY carry matrxes matching each otherin position relation, means to pass a formable web between said drums,circular cutting means on one of said drums parallel to the outerperiphery of the matrix thereon, a small tubular knife carried on saidlast mentioned drum concentric with the matrix thereon, a ring oflignum-vitae set into the surface of the other of said drums parallel,to the periphery of the matrix thereon and adapted to be engaged by thecutting edges ofsaid cutting means as said drums are rotated, a smalldisc of lignum-vitae -or the like'set linto the surface of said otherdrum concentric with the matrix and adapted to be engaged by saidtubular knife as the latter forms center holes in the records. strippermeans set into the surface of said rst vdrum within said circularcutting means for lstripping or ejecting cut out discs from the interiorof said cutting means, and other stripper means concentric with saidtubular knife adapted to eject from the latter plugs cut out from saidweb as said center'holes are formed in the records.

3. In a device for producing phonograph records from a web, havingformative material on the faces thereof, a frame, a pair of spacedshafts journaled in said frame, gear means positioned on one of saidshafts and having a splined hub,

a second gear means on the other of said shafts and also havingV asplined hub, means connected to at least one of said gear means forcontinuously eliminating backlash, a drum carrying matrixes, said drumbeing positioned on saidfrst Shaft and having Va splined hub engagingthe splined hub on said rst gear means, a second drum carrying matrixespositioned on said sec-V ond shaft and having a splined hub engaging thesplined hub on said second gear means, heating means adapted to softenthe surfaces of said formative material before said web reaches saidmatrixes, and cutting means concentric with and movable with thematrixes on at least one of said drums adapted to cut from said webmaterial impressioned areas in the form of discs.

LINCOLN M. KEEFE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number NameV Date Re. 16,384V -McCrohan et al.July 13, 1926 87,983 Staiord Mar. 16, 1869 378,405 Snyder et al. I Feb.2l, 1888 415,044 Joslin Nov. 12, 1889 468,613 `Frist Feb. 9, 1892770,648 O-eser Sept. 20, 1904 806,625 I Beecher Dec. 5, 1905 837,633McAnulty Dec. 4, 1906 892,085 Rese June 30, 1908 1,467,594' Weiss Sept.11, 1923 1,533,124 Lindsay Apr. 14, 1925 1,539,149 Thornburg May 26,1925 1,954,635 Leonard Jr. Apr. 10, 1934 1,970,396 Scherer Aug. 14, 19341,996,057 Buckle Apr. 2, 1935 2,281,877 Green May 5, 1942 2,319,040Conklin May 11, 1943 2,371,074 Spencer Mar. 6, 1945 2,391,814 WoodallDec. 25, 1945

